Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a house fire in the Belmont neighborhood (922 SE 38th ave.) at 8:42pm. When crews arrived they found a three story home fully involved. First arriving engine companies were forced to fight the fire from the exterior because of the amount and intensity of the flames. Once they were able to knock down the fire from the exterior they moved to an interior firefighting operation. The homeowner was outside the home and was able to confirm that there were no other residents inside the home but that one dog may not have made it out. Crews made a concerted effort to search and rescue of the dog. The dog was found but unfortunately was pronounced dead at the scene. Ladder truck crews, which carry necessary equipment for the transition to the investigation phase, were still on-scene removing the last of hot and/or burning material in the home. This allows the fire investigators to enter the area and try to determine the original cause of the fire. This determination will be reported when it is available. No other injuries were reported.

Contact Info: Lt. Rich Chatman PIO, media pgr: 503-940-6003